Serial killers and the media have a long and symbiotic relationship. But, with advances in technology and the popularity of social media, have these killers started to find new ways to communicate with the public? And how are social media websites used to spread rumours of serial killers amongst communities?
Earlier this year, rumours of a serial killer terrorising the small L.A districts of Wilmington and San Pedro were rife on social media sites such as Facebook and Twitter.
The rumours started after the body of young woman was found in January. Local residents were certain that other women had been found murdered in the same area, and in the same way. This started rumour to spread like wildfire across the internet, with thousands of people being convinced that there was a serial killer on the prowl in their neighbourhood.
Residents have questioned police, sent emails and comments to reporters, and made queries on Facebook websites such as “Life in Wilmington” to get answers.
That evening, the Facebook page “Life in Wilmington,” which has more than 5,000 followers, posted in capital letters: “ATTENTION ALL WOMAN, ANOTHER FEMALE BODY HAS BEEN FOUND NEAR ALAMEDA AND ANAHEIM ST, PLEASE BE ALERT IT MIGHT BE A SERIAL KILLER!!!”
The status update triggered a wave of responses and concern.
L.A police were quick to put a stop to the rumours, stating that the information which had appeared online was false; however, local residents remain unconvinced of their safety and it could be some time before life in these districts returns to normal.
The use of social media isn’t limited to just innocent bystanders though.
A killer in Colombia decided to post a “death list” on Facebook, after murdering three local teens.
Police were stumped after the three teens were shot dead for no apparent reason, until the list was published, and a fourth victim from the list was found dead soon after.
More lists were soon posted, and leaflets were placed on cars asking the families of kids on the list to leave town within three days or see their children killed.
The other teens on the list understandably fled town at the first opportunity.
The killer still remains at large, and whether this was the work of a “social media-savvy killer” or a twisted prank remains unsolved.
The internet is an easy tool by which to spread your message to many, many people, and still remain anonymous, because surely a killer wouldn’t be brazen enough to list their sick activities as hobbies on their personal profile?
Wrong.
The Facebook profile of 15 year old Alyssa Bustamante stood out her peers’ because, rather than ‘shopping’ or ‘hanging out with friends’, her hobbies were listed as ‘cutting’ and ‘killing people.’
Most people would put this down to teenage angst and adolescent fantasy, but when the body of a nine year old girl was found and Alyssa confessed to the murder, these boasts became a grim reality.
When asked why she did it, she replied “I wanted to know what it would feel like.”
This was, however, no spur of the moment act of violence. Alyssa had planned the murder for months, and even dug a shallow grave in advance.
Alyssa’s current status will no doubt read “spending the rest of my life in a mental institution.”
For more information on these cases, go to:
http://abclocal.go.com/kabc/story?section=news/local/los_angeles&id=8502612
http://www.dailybreeze.com/latestnews/ci_19723199
http://www.ranker.com/list/the-13-craziest-deaths-caused-by-social-media/whitney-milam?page=3
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